Ice making apparatus



l? 9 J. A. MARTOCELLO 1,965,081

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 3, 1934.J. A. MARTOCELLO 1,965,031

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1934- J. A.MARTOCELLO 1,965,081

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JuHyB, 1934.J. A. MARTOCELLO ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 4 a a n.

ASM

l atented July 3, 1934 ICE MAKING APPARATUS Joseph A. Martocello,Philadelphia, Pa.

Application September 14, 1931, Serial No. 562,671

8 Claims.

My invention relates to aerating connections for ice cans and tocontrolling valves for can basket units or a series of cans which areused individually in the manufacture of ice.

The main purpose of my invention is to provide controlling means toreduce the volume of air required after the cores have been pumped fromthe block of ice during their freezing period to eliminate ragged edgesof ice formation at the top of the block.

A further purpose is to provide aerating systems used in the manufactureof ice with controlling valves to regulate the predetermined amount ofair required after the core has been pumped and refilled with freshwater.

A further purpose is to provide an adjustable air controlling valve forclear raw water ice making systems used at the end of a unit of ice canswhen ice is being manufactured.

A further purpose is to provide a series drop tube bracket adapted to beclamped about a can basket lateral and having a curved arm between itsclamping portion and its v(free) tube carrier end.

A further purpose is to provide a spindle for a 'valve adapted todifferent size drilling of orifices, by previously spot drilling thespindle, to accommodate variation in air supply to aerating systems forthe manufacture of ice.

A further purpose is to provide an automatic L shaped check valve for anaerating system in the manufacture of ice.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I prefer to show one form only of my invention with a slightmodification, selecting a form which is practical, efiicient, reliableand inexpensive and which at the same time well illustrates theprinciples of my invention.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a raw water ice makingsystem showing the parts in position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 2 taken on the line4-4.

Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section of a check valve used inFigures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a freeze-in drop tubebracket shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure '7 is a section of Figure 6 taken on the line 7--7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of an air controlling valve shown inFigures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 9 is a sectional plan view of Figure 8 taken on the line 9-9.

Figure 10 is a detached perspective view of a valve stem.

Figures 11 to 13 inclusive are sectional views of a valve stem showingdiiferent drillings that may be used to accommodate needed requirementsof the controlling valve.

Figure 14 is a top plan view similar to Figure 2 but showing amodification.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of Figure 14.

In all figures like numerals refer to like parts.

Describing in illustration, but not in limitation and referring to thedrawings:

In describing first the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive,a header is placed above a series of baskets 21 containing cans 22 andshowing their relation to the fiooring 23 of a freezing tank. Airlaterals 24 are attached to the header 20 by nipples 25 and Us 26.

The can baskets 21 may be placed in the openings formed between thelateral stringers 27 in the freezing tank beneath the flooring 23. Thesecan baskets carry a series of cans 22 in which ice is manufactured.

The freeze-in drop tubes 28 are supported by brackets 29 (see Figures 1to 4 and 6, '7 which clamp at 30 about a supplemental or basket lateral31 mounted upon the walls 32 of the basket.

The lateral 31 supports the'brackets and also permits them to be rockedtogether about the lateral and to be locked in their normal position.This movement is controlled by an arm 33 terminating in a slidingplunger 34 which in normal position fits into an opening 35 in wall 32.The sliding plunger may be spring-pressed and is released by sliding abutton 36 in an opening 37.

Air is supplied to the supplemental lateral 31 through valve 38, fitting39 and flexible connection 40, seen in Figures 1 to 5. The valve bodyterminates in a threaded tap 41 fitting into the lateral. An opening 42in the end of the body admits a ball valve 43 but is then closed by athreaded plug 44.

The valve closes against a seat 45, as a check valve except when thefitting is inserted, at which time the valve is opened by the end 46 ofa tapered sleeve 47. The sleeve fits into a corresponding tapered seat48 and theend 46 is laterally notched or otherwise relieved at 49 topermit air passage. The fitting 39 is adapted for tube connection.

The freeze-in drop tubes are held in place in the cans by screwing theupper ends 28' (Figure 6) of the tubes 28 into ferrules 50. The ferrulesare provided with outwardly extending lugs 51 to fit in recesses 52 inthe downwardly extending spaced curved arms 53, 53 of the bracket 29.

I countersink openings 54 in the ferrules 50 for easy reception of oneend 55 of an elbownozzle 55 attached to the hose connection. Theconnections with the can basket lateral include flexible hose 56 and anL 5'7, one end of which is inserted within the lateral.

The bracket 29, which is split at 30 is fastened in place on the canbasket lateral 31 by a set screw 58 as clearly shown in Figures 6 and'7. The clamp is reinforced by ribs 59, which merge into arms 53, 53'.

After a certain amount of freezing, the core removal takes place and asthe continuation of aeration or agitation is desired, I provide for areduction of air volume and for adjustment of the extent of variationalso in many instances. This is effected by a controlling valve 63 shownin Figures 8-13.

The purpose of the controlling valve is to throttle down the pressure ofair used for aeration, after the core has been pumped. The reducedvolume of air is the more desirable as the water freezes because therewill then be less water agitated. An amount of air satisfactory duringthe earlier period of freezing becomes excessive after the core has beenpumped which causes a considerable amount of splashing of the waterremaining in the can and builds a ragged edge of ice on the ice block,and also leaves an objectionable hole in the center. I have discoveredthat it is very advantageous to reduce the air volume within the droptubes after the cores have been pumped.

This air valve 63 will allow for more uniform freezing at the top of theblock of ice, thereby causing a more even surface to be produced andreducing the final freezing time of the block.

The valve stem 60 is enlarged at 61 centrally within a bore 62 in thevalve 63. The stem is reduced in diameter at 64 to form a shoulder 65against which packing 66 is forced by a plug 67.

The plug 67 is screwed into a threaded aperture 68 thereby forcing thepacking downwardly against a shoulder 65 of the valve stem and ashoulder 69 of the valve body by the lower surface '70 of the plug 67,and outwardly against the interior wall 71 of the valve body as clearlyshown in Figure 8.

Above the plug 67 the stem is further reduced at 72 for the reception ofa stem-operating handle '73.

The bore 62 in the valve body forms a chamber 74 into which air isadmitted from the hose connection and coupling through an opening '75 inthe valve body and into which the tapered end 26 of the coupling isinserted. The bottom '77 of the chamber '74 within the valve forms aseat '78 into which the lower end 79 of the valve stem is placed.

I provide the enlarged portion 61 of the valve stem with an interiorbore 80 which communicates with a discharge or outlet opening 81:

also as a convenient means of allowing the openings 84 in the valve stemto be drilled to any desired size to suit any pressure required afterthe core water has been removed.

The holes 84, 84 are so proportioned to the quantity of air required asto give a predetermined minimum aerating flow within the can basketlateral 31. For example if there be but four cans to a basketandtherefore to a lateral these holes will be made smaller than would bethe case if there were six cans to a basket. Preferably they are cutinto the interior of the lateral but not through.

For the normal full flow of air much larger openings are desirable.Since the space across the inlet at 85 is narrow I prefer to use two ormore openings 86 in line lengthwise of the valve, which in one valveposition are sealed by the shell from edge 8'7 to edge 88 (Figure 9)with the valve in a position turned a half turn from that of Figure 9 toclose air off entirely at the valve.

As will be seen the valve when opened will normally present fullopenings 86 for air how, the flared openings 84, 84' being closedagainst bearing faces 89 and 90 of the valve body. With the quarter turnin either direction one of the openings 84, 84 will be exposed for airinlet to the bore of the tubular valve and the other will be exposed tothe dead space 91.

The can baskets are spaced in the frame by any suitable means such as bybars 92 and care is taken to prevent interference with the air feedbecause of moisture in the air. This protection takes two forms. The airin the header is heated by a steam pipe 93 so to decrease the humidityand reduce the chance of condensation entirely.

In operation the air is automatically turned on when fitting 39 isinserted within the body 38 pushing the ball valve 43 to position seenin Figure 5. Because the end of this fitting forms a complete ring at 94not substantially interrupted by lateral apertures 49 there is verylittle tendency to pit the ball valve and substantially no Wire drawingtakes place, the flow of air being removed from the surface of the balland being carried beyond it to the lateral openings instead of initiallytaking place along the surface of the ball as would be true if thetapered end of the fitting terminated in a serrated or notched surface.This avoidance of air passage along the surface of the ball is regardedas of considerable value.

The air from the main lateral 24, in Figures 1 to 5 is thus turned on bythe valve 38 to the controlling valve 63 and to the can basket lateral31. In Figures 14 and 15 the valve 38 of Figure 5 is omitted and the airis connected directly from the air header 20 through the controllingvalve 63 to the can basket lateral 31. In either event from the canbasket lateral the air passes through the Us and flexible tubes 56 tothe drop tubes 28. It is quite desirable to control the entire canbasket lateral air supply by a single valve rather than to have aseparate valve in each air connection. This is not only because ofreduction in the number of valves but because of the better location forthe valve at the connection to the lateral than at the individuallateral tubes to the drop tube.

When the water is partly frozen in the cans of the basket and theunfrozen water has been greatly reduced in quantity I find that I canreduce the freezing time and froth which otherwise is present andimprove the character of the block of ice by cutting down the quantityof air to the cans and can quickly, conveniently and reliably do this tobest advantage by cutting down the air to the entire group of cans in abasket at the same time to a predetermined fixed quantity, as by a valve63 having definite valve openings of different size. Moreover though theopenings 84 on opposite sides across the hollow valve stem 60 might bemade of different size to give a choice of sizes in the individualinstallation according -to whether the valve be turned a quarter turnright-handedly or left-handedly I find that this additional choice ofcontrol supplies is not ordinarily necessary and therefore does notordinarily justify the possible confusion in the minds of the operatorsas to the direction of turning. The turning of the handle is alwaysclockwise and one side is painted white to instantly indicate the wideopen position.

It will be evident that the character of the curve of the spaced bracketarms, concave facing upwardly and downwardly, permits much more nearlydirect connection between a low elbow nozzle fitting into the top of thetube ferrule than 25. would otherwise be the case and gives greateropheader through a general lateral valve to the can basket lateral hasits advantages in separate control of the flow of air independently ofthe flow of a predetermined quantity of air, but that with the use of aquantitative control valve,

such as that shown in Figures 8 and 9, the addi- 35 tional lateral andthe general shut-off valve 38 can be omitted, using the valve of Figures8 and 9 for the double purpose of a shut-off valve and quantity-controlvalve. However, the value of the valve 38 of Figure 5 as a check valveautomatically operated is then lost.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part "of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claimall such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1' claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In an air-agitating system for ice cans, an air tube hanging in theice can and delivering air to the lower part of the can, a supportswingably supporting the air tube, an air delivery system thereforincluding a lateral feeding the tube and a valve in the system at thelateral inlet having a plurality of passages of different sizesselectively open whereby predetermined different pressures of air can bemaintained selectively in the discharging tube.

2. In a can basket construction, a header, a basket frame, a pluralityof cans in the basket frame, a can basket lateral for the basket, airtubes swingably supported in the cans, and air connections between thetubes and the lateral, other air connection between the lateral andheader including a valve having definitely variant openings whereby oneopening can be provided for the earlier part of the freezing and adefinite smaller opening can be provided, without altering theconnections from the tubes to the lateral and when the freezing haslargely been completed.

3. In a can basket construction, a header, a basket frame, a pluralityof cans in the basket frame, a can basket lateral for the basket, airtubes swingably supported in the cans, and air connections between thedrop tubes and lateral and other air connection from the lateral to theheader, said other connection including a valve having definitelyvariant openings whereby full opening between the lateral and header canbe provided for the earlier part of the freezing and a definite reducedopening can be provided without altering the connections from thelateral to the cans and when the freezing has largely been completed.

4. In a can basket construction, a header, a basket frame, a pluralityof baskets therein, each basket including a plurality of cans, a lateralfor the basket frame, a can basket lateral for each basket, air tubesswingably supported in the cans and air connections between the tubes ofeach basket and the basket lateral and between the basket lateral andheader through the basket frame lateral, the said connections includinga valve at the inlet of each basket lateral and out of the basket framelateral and having definitely variant openings whereby full opening canbe provided for the earlier part of the freezing and a definite reducedopening can be provided without altering the connections from the tubesto the lateral and when the freezing has largely been completed.

5. In an ice refrigerating system, a plurality of cans in series, alateral for the cans, air tubes swingably supported in the cans and airconnections between the tubes and lateral, including a valve havingdefinitely variant openings controlling air flow to a plurality of droptubes whereby full opening can be provided for the earlier part of thefreezing and a definite reduced opening can be provided without alteringthe connections from the tubes to the lateral and when the freezing haslargely been completed.

6. In an air agitating drop tube system for ice cans, an air supplylateral, a bracket having 1 clamp means, an arm upon the clamp means andhaving a portion extending downwardly from said clamp means, a portionupon said arm extending outwardly and approximately horizontally, aferrule mounted upon the free end of the last mentioned portion of thearm, a drop tube suspended in a vertical position from the ferrule, anelbow having a lower vertical portion engaging the ferrule, a flexibletube connected with the upper portion of the elbow, and said outwardlyextending portion of the arm having sufficient length to provide aclearance space between the elbow and said downwardly extending portionof the arm to permit the free rotation of the elbow relatively to theferrule and the flexing of the flexible tube.

'7. In an air agitating drop tube system for ice cans, an air supplylateral, a bracket having clamp means upon the upper end thereof, a droptube, a ferrule secured upon the upper end of the drop tube, means uponthe lower end of the bracket arranged to receive the ferrule and forsuspending the drop tube in a vertical position within the can, an elbowhaving a vertical portion engaging the ferrule and an approximatelyhorizontal portion, a flexible tube connected with the last mentionedportion of said elbow and with said lateral, said bracket having thefree end thereof which is located adjacent to the ferrule graduallycurved and extending approximately parallel with the last mentionedportion of the elbow and in spaced relation to the latter and providingfree space for the elbow to be rotated relatively to the ferrule whenbeing inserted and removed from the ferrule, and said bracket having anabruptly upwardly curved portion located: adjacent to the end thereofupon which said clamp means is located.

8. In an air agitating drop tube system for ice cans, an air supplylateral mounted above the cans, a bracket having clamp means secured tothe lateral, said bracket having an S-shaped arm, said arm having anupwardly curved portion thereof secured. to the clamp means, a droptube, a ferrule secured upon the upper end of the drop tube, supportmeans upon the free end of the arm and occupied by the ferrule andarranged for supporting the drop tube in a vertical position within thecan, an elbow having. a lower portion rotatably mounted in the ferrulein axial alignment with the drop tube, a flexible tube connected withthe upper portion of the elbow and connected with said lateral, said armhaving. an opening formed through the medial portion of the same andoccupied by the flexible tube, said arm arranged with a flat portionthereof located adjacent to the ferrule, and said am having a graduallyupwardly curved portion there. of located at a sufiicient distance fromthe ferrule to provide a free space for the rotation of the elbowrelatively to the ferrule and for the flexing of the flexible tubebetween the arm and the ferrule.

JOSEPH A. MARTOCELLO.

